Jack McCaffery is the lead sports columnist for the Daily Times and delcotimes.com. He has spent several decades covering everything from the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers, to college hoops, to high school sports in Delco.

Monday, May 21, 2012

REPORT FROM SIXERS SHOOT AROUND IN BOSTON

By JACK McCAFFERY

jmccaffery@delcotimes.com

@JackMcCaffery

BOSTON --- The Sixers showed up at the TD Garden Monday, tied in the second-round playoff series with the Celtics even after falling behind 18 points in Game 3.

In itself, that's an achievement --- just not enough of one, not now, not according to Doug Collins.

"I don't think our guys feel like that at all," the Sixers' coach said Monday, after a morning shoot-around. "I think our guys feel very strong. Had we had that mindset that we got farther than anyone thought, we would have lost Game 4.

"We were down, 49-31, and nothing was going right. It would have been easy for human nature to take over and say, 'It's been fun or whatever, but they are the better team.' But our guys didn't do that.

"We feel very strongly that if we come in here and play well, we can win."

The morning shoot-around, as per Sixers policy, was closed to the press. All players were accounted for, however, including Elton Brand. Brand has been suffering from an injured neck and shoulder and was heavily bandaged after the workout.

Collins indicated, however, that Brand would start in Game 5, which will start at 7.

"That's sort of been the status quo," Collins said. "But there is no question, he is very limited in what he can do moving his neck."

Collins said he will go early to Lavoy Allen as a potential defensive remedy for Kevin Garnett.

"I like him to play Kevin as much as possible," Collins said. "When Doc takes him out, maybe Lavoy will come out. I'm not saying he is the 'K.G. Stopper', but he is a guy who goves us some strength and does a pretty good job with him."